Car loading device



Jan. 12, 19 37. s, NAMPA 2,067,724

I CAR LOADING DEVICE Filed NOV. 21, 1934 I INVENTOR. 5 21 Z 0 M Ndmya.

A TTORNEY5.

Patented Jan. 12, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE OAR LOADING DEVICE Application November 21, 1934, Serial No. 754,016

6 Claims.

The invention relates to car loading devices and it has particular relation to a device for loading automobiles in freight cars for transportation purposes.

Particularly, the invention relates to a car loading device such as generally embodied in the copending application for patent of Samuel D. Butterworth, *Ser. No. 646,830, filed December 12, 1932, wherein a frame is provided which is pivotally suspended from upper parts of the car and is adapted to raise an automobile from a position on the floor to a semi-decking position. When the loading device is not in use, the arrangement is such that the frame may be moved to a position parallel to and closely adjacent to the roof. For raising and lowering the frame, a hoisting mechanism is provided and as disclosed in such copending application for patent, the hoisting mechanism serves to hold the frame in its upper position. Broadly, the use of a latching means for holding the frame in its position adjacent the roof is disclosed and claimed in my oo-pending application for patent, Ser. No. 640,- 798, filed November 2, 1932, and the present invention involves an improvement in the latching means to which incidental reference is made in the co-pending application for patent of Wissi, Ser. No. 660,500, filed March 13, 1933.

One object of the invention is to provide a latching means which will positively prevent lowering ofthe frame from its position adjacent theroof, unless the frame is first raised a slight amount and accordingly, unless the weight of the frame is first supported by the hoisting mechanism. This is advantageous in that it is impossible to release the latching means until the weight of the frame is being taken by the hoisting mechanism employed for lowering the frame.

Another object of the invention is to provide a latching mechanism which is so arranged that when the frame is elevated to its position adjacent the roof, the latching mechanism will not interfere with such movement and thereafter will automatically engage the frame for holding it in its upper position.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following specification, the drawing relating thereto and from the claims as hereinafter set forth.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal and cross-sectional view illustrating a car loading device having latching means constructed according to one I form of the invention,

at 22. The bracket member is welded to one Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view on a slightly larger scale, taken substantially along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary and enlarged view illustrating one of the latching mechanisms in de- 5 tail,

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional View, taken substantially along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Referring to Fig. l, the frame of the loading device is indicated at 10 and front rods H and rear telescopic rods I2 pivotally suspend the frame from the upper part of the car. A hoisting mechanism 13, including cables M is employed for raising the frame. When the frame reaches its semi-decking position, as shown, hook members I5 on the frame engage the front rods H and if the frame is elevated further, the latter and the front rods swing as a unit about the pivotal connection between the upper ends of the rods H and the freight car. During this further movement the rear rods l2 shorten their length because of their telescopic character and finally the entire arrangement moves into a horizontal plane closely adjacent to the roof. This construction is explained in detail in the co-pending application for patent of Samuel D. Butterworth, previously mentioned.

As shown by Fig. 2, latching means 56 and H are provided at opposite sides of the car for engaging the frame l0 and as shown by Figs. 3 and 4, each latching means includes a latch member I!) which is pivotally mounted on a bracket member 20 by means of a pin 2| that is welded to the outer side of the bracket member as indicated of the metal beams 23 forming a part of the roof construction, and at its lower end it is welded to a brace 24 that in turn is welded to the beam so as to provide a, triangular structure. It will be noted that the lower end of the bracket 20 is inclined towards the side of the car, as indicated at 25, so as to prevent engagement of the frame with the lower edge of the member during elevation of the frame and to provide a guide for insuring movement of the frame upwardly into its proper position.

The latching member at its lower end has an inclined face 26 and an offset portion 21 adapted to move under the frame l0 and to support the latter. The offset portion 27 is notched as indi- 50 cated at 28, for receiving a rib 29 welded to the under side of the frame adjacent its edge, and this notch and rib engagement is desirable in that it prevents release of the latching means unless the frame is first elevated sufliciently to release the rib from the notch. Intermediate the pin 2! and the lower end of the latching member, projections 3! are provided at opposite sides of the member and one of these projections is adapted to engage the bracket member 28 and limit inward movement of the lower end of the latching member when the frame is below the latter. This insures that the lower end of the latching member will not be in the way when the frame is elevated, although it will be understood that the frame, in moving upwardly, will engage the tapered face 2% on the latching member and cause it to move outwardly until the frame is in its raised position, after which the latching member will move into its operative position. For urging the latching member toward its operative position, a spring 33 is provided, which is connected to an upward extension 34 on the mem- V ber and to a suitable connection 35 on the roof.

The above description particularly concerns the latching member at the right hand side of Fig. 2. The latching mechanism at the left side of the frame is the same except that it is reversely positioned, in which case the opposite of the projections 31 will serve to limit inward movement of the latching member. For releasing the latching members simultaneously, a cable 35 extends transversely and adjacent the roof and is connected to the extension 34 on the left hand latching member, and a second cable 3'! is connected to an eye portion 33 on the right hand latching member and below the pin 2!. Both of the cables 36 and 37 are joined to a third cable 39 that extends to the side of the freight carsion 3 1 on the left hand latching member and that the cable 3'! is connected to the eye portion of the right hand latching member below the pin 2!, it will be apparent that both latching members will be moved laterally away from the frame it when the cable 39 is pulled downwardly.

It should be appreciated that, with the latching members in the position shown by Fig. 3, they cannot be released unless the frame is first elevated to free the notches 28 from the rib 29 and this can only be accomplished by operation of the hoist to transfer the load to the cables I l. Hence there. is no danger of any one releasing the latching mechanism unless the load of the frame is being supported by the cables. After the frame is lifted sufiiciently to permit releasing of the latching means, the cable 39 is pulled and with the latching members tilted outwardly, the frame is lowered slightly until the sides of the frame partially'are past the offset portions 2'? on the latching members and then the frame may be lowered by manipulating the hoisting mechanism even though the cable 38 is released. After the frame is in its lowered position, the latching members return substantially to the positions shown by Fig. 3, it being understood that the projectionstl limit inward tilting of the latching members, and when the frame is again raised, it engages the tapered portion as on the members and tilts them outwardly until the ribs 29 are above the offset portions 21, after which the latching members move inwardly and under the frame. Then a slight lowering of the frame will cause the ribs 29 to enter the notches 28 and the frame to be supported by the offset portions '21. This removes the load In view of the fact :that the cable on the cables, which is desirable. It may be mentioned that the provision of projections 3| on opposite sides of the latching members permits any latching member to be used on either side of the frame. 7

Although only one form of the invention has been illustrated and described in detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. The combination with a freight car orthe like, of an automobile loading frame adapted to be elevated, a hoisting mechanism mounted in v the car and including elements for engaging the frame and elevating it, latching means mounted in the car for holding the frame in elevated position, and means for positively preventing release of the latching means until the frame is being supported by the hoisting mechanism.

2. The combinationwith a freight car or the like, of an automobile loading frame adapted to in the car for holding. the frame in elevated position, and means for positively preventing release of the latching means until the frame is first elevated slightly by operation of the hoisting mechanism.

3. The combination with a; freight car or the like, of an automobile loading frame adapted to be elevated, a hoisting mechanism mounted in the car and including elements for engaging the frame and elevating it, latching means mounted in the car for holding the frame in elevated position, and means for positively preventing release of the latching means until the frame. is first elevated slightly by operation of the hoisting mechanism, said last mentioned means com- I prising a notch in the latching means adapted to receive a projection on the frame whenthe latter is lowered slightly into engagement with the latching means.

4. The combination with a freight car, of an automobile loading frame adapted to be elevated,

a hoisting mechanism for elevating the frame, latching members on opposite sides of the car for engaging under the frame and having tapered lower ends for enabling the frame during.

elevation to move the members out of its path of movement, means normally urging the latching members towards positions of engagement with the frame, and means requiring an elevation of the frame slightly past its latched position and. then a slight lowering of the frame, before the.

latching members will supportingly engage the frame, said means positively preventing'release of the latching means until the frame is first and adapted to support the frame.

6. The combination with a freight car, ofa frame adapted to be elevated, a hoisting mechanism for elevating the frame, a pair of laterally,

opposed supporting members positioned adjacent the roof of the car at opposite sides of the frame, a latch member pivotedto" each supporting member on a longitudinal axis and extending above and below said pivotal connectiomsaid;

members pivotally connected to the brace means latch members being provided with frame engaging and supporting portions below their pivots, resilient means urging said latch members into frame-engaging position, and a transversely movable operating member for releasing both said latches, connected to one of said latches at a point above its pivot and. to the other at a point below its pivot, whereby movement of said operating member transversely of the car releases both said latches from the frame.

SU'LO M. NAMPA. 

